Ramadan and cooking...

[flyinghorse]

Hi girls, i have a question concerning cooking during Ramadan. Maybe it's silly, but anyway, i need an answer.
I'm a western woman married to an algerian man. We know each other since more then 7 years and even after all this time there are still popping up subjects, questions and missunderstandings related to our two different cultures. Sometimes i just don't get it, because i didn't grow up the way he did or a muslima.
I do Ramadan together with my husband, not because about the religion, i am a christian, but just about solidarity with him. And by the way i am sure it's a healthy way to "clean up" a bit the body, of course only if you don't overboard with food in the evening !
Now to the point of the story: I was preparing the food, actualy i just finished everything and there was only 2 or 3 minutes till Maghrib, when i tasted the food, not realy eating it, just tasting to make sure it's perfect in salt and all. My husband saw me doing that and was pretty upset. He said, there is no way to put any food for any reason into the mouth before sunset. I was upset too about his reaction and said, that i feel no obligation at all to do Ramadan and there is no reason to go after me that way.
But what i realy would like to know: Do muslimas never taste there food during all Ramadan ?? Even when they are forced to prepare all those dishes and all those special menus ?? Are they such good cooks that they just don't have the need to check anything ? Or do they wait exactly till sunset ? I almost can't believe that a woman is able to cook for hours all kind of stuff without tasting anything. But like i said, maybe i just don't get it
Thanks for every explanation.
Heidi

[Shotokan_Karate]

Salam Heidi,

Wow! Welcome back! Long time no post! Hope all is good!

Well, this question I remember was asked in my class once in Algeria and the teacher told us that it's ok to taste the food, but whatever you do don't swallow it e.i. just use the tongue only then spit out.

If you research you will find an answer inshAllah. See here for an example.

I think with cooking experience though, many Muslim women (and men ) don't need to taste at all, and so avoiding the risk of swallowing the food.

It was wrong of your husband to get upset with you like that, but I'm sure he's only looking out for you and would love for you to fast properly. No doubt it means so much for him that you're fasting too! Well done!

Oh, if not convinced, ask him how does he perform Wudu' (ablution before Salat). Does he put the water in his mouth (no swallowing) or just stare at it?

W'Allahu A3lam

Take care!

[flyinghorse]

Hello Shotokan_Karate
thanks for the nice welcome and the very useful answer !
I'm fine, have a cute, 16 month old daughter, a little berber-swiss-canadian mix
so i'm realy busy and surf usualy not too much the net.

[Bent_Bladi]

haha yeah SK took the cake ... i know some people that don't add salt at all then after they break their fast they add it to the food ..

dunno if that can work for all meals though but yeah

[vicky]

Wow that was interesting , how this womans husband get mad about her tasting the food . well i dont see anything wrong with that because if doesn't pass thru your throat that should be it! so my Friend you didn't nothing wrong i guess he has a bad day and maybe very hungry and upset because the fasting. Also you are not Muslim so you dont have to worry about it!

[flyinghorse]

Wow that was interesting , how this womans husband get mad about her tasting the food . well i dont see anything wrong with that because if doesn't pass thru your throat that should be it! so my Friend you didn't nothing wrong i guess he has a bad day and maybe very hungry and upset because the fasting. Also you are not Muslim so you dont have to worry about it!

Hi vicky, yeah actualy it passed my throat, or at least i didn't spit it out, but it's kind of difficult to spit out a few drops of liquid... it just disapears in your mouth, you even don't have to swallow.
You say, that i don't have to worry about it, because i am not Muslim. If i would be Muslim, for what i had to worry about ?

Heidi

[Shotokan_Karate]

Hello Shotokan_Karate
thanks for the nice welcome and the very useful answer !
I'm fine, have a cute, 16 month old daughter, a little berber-swiss-canadian mix
so i'm realy busy and surf usualy not too much the net.

Aww...Allah ibarek! How sweet!

By the way, do you still look after your horses?

Hi vicky, yeah actualy it passed my throat, or at least i didn't spit it out, but it's kind of difficult to spit out a few drops of liquid... it just disapears in your mouth, you even don't have to swallow.
You say, that i don't have to worry about it, because i am not Muslim. If i would be Muslim, for what i had to worry about ?

Heidi

I thought so! But no worries, your fast is still valid because you didn't know

As a reminder though, even if those drops just "disappeared" they would have dissolved in the saliva already present in the mouth which if you spit out you can make sure those drops have gone too. And when you spit out you can only spit out as much as you can until you're satisfied, so you actually made the effort not to swallow which is the main thing.

As with all things good that we intend to do, if one intends to fast then they should strive to do it properly and not "cut corners" or pretend. So it's not about worrying about a few drops - we all know it's deeper than that! It's about being sincere with Allah and oneself. If that's not the case, then one should worry.

W'Allahu A3lam

Take care for now and saha ftourek!